PANalytical's Empyrean to Be Featured at Intersolar North America - The World of XRD Analysis Is No Longer Flat

SAN FRANCISCO, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- World leading X-ray analytical instrument manufacturer, PANalytical (Almelo, The Netherlands) has changed the game in multi-purpose X-ray diffraction (XRD) with the launch of its Empyrean high-performance diffractometer this year.  Solar related applications for the Empyrean, such as depth profiling for phase identification, film thickness, thin film stress, and epitaxial composition and relaxation, will be featured at Intersolar North America 2010 (Exhibiting - July 13 - 15,  Booth #9438,  Moscone Center West Hall, San Francisco, CA, US).

Every major element of Empyrean is new: the X-ray source, the state-of-the-art goniometer, new sample stages, the radiation enclosure, and the world's first 3D detection system, PIXcel(3D).  Empyrean is unique in its ability to measure all sample types - from powders to thin films, from nanomaterials to 3D objects - on a single instrument. Users can switch between application setups in a fast and cost-effective way using PANalytical's proven PreFIX modules, with no compromise on the quality of diffraction data. Empyrean is easy to use too. Dedicated hardware, software and regulatory expertise incorporated in pre-defined programs, and a customizable desktop and batch sample capabilities help make advanced functions accessible to all.

Dr. Martijn Fransen, Product Marketing Manager XRD commented: "Empyrean is PANalytical's answer to the challenges of modern materials research. While today's research themes are nanomaterials, life sciences and renewable energy, tomorrow's science may move in a totally different direction. The lifetime of a PANalytical diffractometer stretches further than the typical horizon of a single research program and for many scientists, an ability to accommodate change is a 'must-have' feature in their decision to invest in an XRD system."

For many users, powder samples are their primary interest and here Empyrean delivers the highest accuracy and data quality in the most flexible and advanced system on the market. Switching to thin films, Empyrean provides for high-resolution epitaxy analysis and handles all common applications. Investigations into nanomaterials can also be performed with Empyrean: size and shape of crystalline domains within the material, and structural analysis of near amorphous materials are all possible. PDF (pair distribution function), SAXS (small angle X-ray scattering), and even the ability to monitor the evolution of crystalline phases in situ with the unique slurry flow cell stage are all possible on the advanced Empyrean platform. Finally, the internal structure of solid objects can be studied without having to be cut: the unique PIXcel(3D) detector can be used as a CT scanner allowing non-destructive analysis of pharmaceutical formulations (tablets, capsules), electronic components (batteries, ICs, capacitors) and geo- and archaeological samples, to name a few.

Full details of the ground-breaking Empyrean system are available at: www.panalytical.com

About PANalytical

PANalytical is the world's leading supplier of analytical instrumentation and software for X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), with more than half a century of experience. The materials characterization equipment is used for scientific research and development, for industrial process control applications and for semiconductor metrology.

The company is certified in accordance with ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001.

The product portfolio includes a broad range of XRD and XRF systems and software widely used for the analysis and materials characterization of products such as cement, metals and steel, nanomaterials, plastics, polymers and petrochemicals, industrial minerals, glass, catalysts, semiconductors, thin films and advanced materials, pharmaceutical solids, recycled materials and environmental samples.

SOURCE PANalytical Inc.